Menemsha Sunset

On these cold winter days it’s nice to think about summer sunsets in Menemsha.  But first let me tell you a joke. A police car was cruising down the highway when the cop saw the passenger door of the car ahead of him suddenly fly open and a woman come tumbling out.  The cop stopped to help the woman, who miraculously was unhurt,  and then they sped ahead to catch up with her husband. When the cop pulled him over the husband hadn’t even realized what happened.  “What a...

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Anna Karenina

The cultural offerings in this town are amazing and seem to be endless – theatre, film, concerts, art exhibits, lectures, and my own guilty pleasure,  literary discussions. One place I can usually count on for a literary fix is the Columbia University Club on W 43 St.   In addition to a great restaurant,  a well-stocked bar,  and a well-stocked library to boot,  the Club presents lectures,  readings,  theatre outings and even a monthly book discussion group. So I was delighted to...

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All That Jazz

We both grew up in classical music-loving families,  and still keep our radio set to WQXR,  though admittedly we seldom go to classical concerts or opera.  And as children of the 50s we love rock & roll, and doo wop and folk and country,  and of course the Beatles and the Stones and the Dead,  and the whole rockin’ and soulful soundtrack of our generation. Our son follows the jam band Phish and we love their sound too.  But though we enjoy all that music,  we don’t...

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Milk and Honey

FLU SEASON,  Apt 16A,  3:00 am HE (coughing violently, wakes spouse)  “My throat is killing me.  I think I need some warm milk and honey.” SHE (sleepily)  “Oh you poor boy.  I’ll go fix it.” She gets out of bed,  puts on her bathrobe and slippers and trudges off to the kitchen. TWO WEEKS LATER,  Apt 16A,  3:00 am SHE (coughing violently,  wakes spouse)  “I guess I’ve caught your flu.  My throat is killing me.  I think I need some warm milk...

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Hostage to Fortune

I’ve been feeling sorry for myself lately,  still immobilized and wheelchair-bound by my second ankle surgery a few weeks ago.  And then this week our cousin’s son Ariel,  a young guy in his 30s,  fell on the ice and broke his hip.  He had surgery but is still in a lot of pain and anticipates a long rehab.  Thankfully Ariel and I will recover,  but not so others in our family who suffer incurable ills. Of course tragedy plays no favorites, and this week we learned of two...

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